Cellular and Molecular Alterations Underlying Abnormal Bone Growth in X-Linked Hypophosphatemia

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), the most common form of hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, is caused by inactivating mutations of the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase gene (PHEX). XLH is mainly characterized by short stature, bone deformities and rickets, while in hypophosphatemia, normal or low vitamin D levels and low renal phosphate reabsorption are the principal biochemical aspects. The cause of growth impairment in patients with XLH is not completely understood yet, thus making the study of the growth plate (GP) alterations necessary. New treatment strategies targeting FGF23 have shown promising results in normalizing the growth velocity and improving the skeletal effects of XLH patients. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate how this treatment affects the GP as well as its long-term effects and the impact on adult height.

Switching from conventional therapy to burosumab injection has the potential to prevent nephrocalcinosis in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets

Objectives X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is a congenital fibroblast growth factor (FGF)23-related metabolic bone disease that is treated with active vitamin D and phosphate as conventional therapies. Complications of these therapies include nephrocalcinosis (NC) caused by excessive urine calcium and phosphate concentrations. Recently, an anti-FGF23 antibody, burosumab, was developed and reported to be effective in poorly-controlled or severe XLH patients. This study aimed to reveal the impact of switching treatments in relatively well-controlled XLH children with the Rickets Severity Scale less than 2.0. Methods The effects of the two treatments in eight relatively well-controlled XLH children with a mean age of 10.4 ± 1.9 years were compared retrospectively for the same treatment duration (31 ± 11 months) before and after the baseline. Results Actual doses of alfacalcidol and phosphate as conventional therapy were 150.9 ± 43.9 ng/kg and 27.5 ± 6.3 mg/kg per day, respectively. Renal echography revealed spotty NC in 8/8 patients, but no aggravation of NC was detected by switching treatments. Switching treatments increased TmP/GFR (p=0.002) and %TRP (p<0.001), and improved the high urine calcium/creatinine ratio to the normal range (p<0.001) although both treatments controlled disease markers equally. Additionally, low intact parathyroid hormone during conventional therapy was increased within the normal range by switching treatments. Conclusions Our results suggest that a high dose of alfacalcidol was needed to control the disease, but it caused hypercalciuria and NC. We concluded that switching treatments in relatively well-controlled XLH children improved renal phosphate reabsorption and decreased urine calcium extraction, and may have the potential to prevent NC.

P49 An unusual cause of transient migratory bone oedema: fibroblast growth factor-23 secreting a mesenchymal tumour

Background Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphate regulator primarily expressed by osteocytes. Excess FGF-23 leads to decreased hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and poor renal phosphate reabsorption. This leads to hypophosphatemia and represents a rare cause of osteomalacia, resulting in bone oedema and stress fractures. Methods A 57-year-old man with known skin psoriasis presented with a two-year history of left foot and ankle pain. On examination, he had chronic dactylitis of the big toe and extra-articular features included skin psoriasis on the scalp, elbows, knees, and nail pitting. Serum inflammatory markers were normal, and autoimmune screens for RF, anti-CCP and HLA-B27 were negative. Bilateral foot and ankle X-rays showed no bony abnormality. This was diagnosed as likely psoriatic arthritis and MRI showed talar bone oedema, felt to be related to inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms settled well on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. However, he presented with focal distal tibial swelling and pain, two months later. There was no history of trauma, Repeat MRI2 showed proximal migration of bone oedema with stress fractures of the left posterior talus and distal tibial metaphysis. Bloods tests showed low phosphate, elevated PTH, normal adjusted calcium, raised ALP and low 25-OH vitamin D. DEXA scan confirmed osteoporosis of the hip. The patient was commenced on bisphosphonate with 25-hydroxyvitamin D and phosphate supplementation. Despite this, the patient continued to have migratory joint pain affecting the ankle, hip and sacroiliac joints. Methotrexate was started for psoriasis and whilst his skin improved, his pain remained and further MRI showed left talar and right neck of femur insufficiency fractures. Results Although taking vitamin D3 supplementation, he remained hypophosphateamic 0.5mmol/L. Myeloma screen and PET FDG were normal. However, he was noted to have an increased fractional urinary phosphate excretion indicating poor renal phosphate reabsorption. One possible cause of this is elevated FGF-23, which was confirmed with FGF-23 assay (include levels and normal range). The patient underwent PET Ga-DOTATE imaging, utilising a tracer specific for somatostatin receptors found on neuroendocrine tumours. This showed a T9 pedicle lesion and a CT-guided biopsy confirmed a mesenchymal tumour as the cause of FGF-23 secretion, resulting in TBMO and insufficiency fractures. The patient has become asymptomatic on calcitriol and phosphate supplementation. He is now being considered for radiofrequency ablation therapy. Conclusion This case illustrates the need for a thorough investigation of symptomatic, treatment-refractory hypophosphataemia. Although mild hypophosphatemia could indicate adult-onset rickets, rarer causes such as FGF-23 secreting tumours should be considered. These tumours are notoriously difficult to locate; Ga-DOTATE PET is probably superior to other imaging modalities including FDG-PET in isolating mesenchymal tumours. Disclosures K. Fisher None. S. Melath None. S. Patel None.

P41 Searching high and low for a cause of transient migratory bone oedema: fibroblast growth factor-23 secreting mesenchymal tumour

Background Fibroblast Ggrowth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphate regulator primarily expressed by osteocytes. Excess FGF-23 leads to decreased hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and poor renal phosphate reabsorption. This leads to hypophosphataemia and represents a rare cause of osteomalacia, resulting in bone oedema and stress fractures. Methods A 57-year-old man with known skin psoriasis presented with a two-year history of left foot and ankle pain. On examination, he had chronic dactylitis of the left, big toe associated with skin psoriasis and nail pitting. Serum inflammatory markers were normal, and autoimmune screens for RF, anti-CCP and HLA-B27 were negative. Bilateral foot and ankle X-rays showed no bony abnormality. This was diagnosed as likely psoriatic arthritis and MRI showed talar bone oedema, felt to be related to the inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms settled well on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. However, he presented two months later with focal distal tibial pain and swelling. There was no history of trauma. Repeat MRI showed proximal migration of bone oedema with stress fractures of the left posterior talus and distal tibial metaphysis. Results Blood tests showed low phosphate, elevated PTH, normal adjusted calcium, raised ALP and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D. DEXA scan confirmed osteoporosis of the hip. The patient was commenced on intravenous three-monthly pamidronate and colecalciferol (vitamin D3) supplements. Despite this, the patient continued to have migratory joint pain affecting the ankle, hip and sacroiliac joints. Methotrexate was prescribed to improve his psoriasis, but whilst his skin improved his legs remained painful. A repeat MRI showed new insufficiency fractures to the left talus and right neck of femur. Although taking colecalciferol supplementation, his serum phosphate remained low (0.5mmol/L). On further investigation, Myeloma screen and FDG PET were normal but he was noted to have an increased fractional urinary phosphate excretion indicating poor renal phosphate reabsorption. Serum FGF-23 assay was elevated at 131 mIU/L (normal &lt;100mIU/L). The patient underwent 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET imaging, utilising a tracer specific for somatostatin receptors found on neuroendocrine tumours, which showed a T9 pedicle lesion. CT-guided biopsy confirmed a mesenchymal tumour as the cause of FGF-23 secretion, resulting in transient bone marrow oedema and insufficiency fractures. The patient has become asymptomatic on calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) and phosphate supplementation, and is being considered for radiofrequency ablation therapy. Conclusion This case illustrates the need for thorough investigation of symptomatic, treatment-refractory hypophosphataemia. Although mild hypophosphatemia could indicate adult onset rickets, rarer causes such as FGF-23 secreting tumours should be considered. These tumours are notoriously difficult to locate; 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET may offer superior specificity to other imaging modalities, including FDG-PET, in detecting these mesenchymal tumours. FGF-23 decreases hydroxylation of vitamin D3 and renal phosphate reabsorption, and calcitriol alongside phosphate supplementation is advisable for symptomatic management until definitive treatment. Disclosures K. Fisher None. S. Melath None. S. Patel None.

Functional Diversity of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Bone Formation

The functional significance of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in bone formation has been demonstrated through genetic loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches. FGFs, comprising 22 family members, are classified into three subfamilies: canonical, hormone-like, and intracellular. The former two subfamilies activate their signaling pathways through FGF receptors (FGFRs). Currently, intracellular FGFs appear to be primarily involved in the nervous system. Canonical FGFs such as FGF2 play significant roles in bone formation, and precise spatiotemporal control of FGFs and FGFRs at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels may allow for the functional diversity of FGFs during bone formation. Recently, several research groups, including ours, have shown that FGF23, a member of the hormone-like FGF subfamily, is primarily expressed in osteocytes/osteoblasts. This polypeptide decreases serum phosphate levels by inhibiting renal phosphate reabsorption and vitamin D3activation, resulting in mineralization defects in the bone. Thus, FGFs are involved in the positive and negative regulation of bone formation. In this review, we focus on the reciprocal roles of FGFs in bone formation in relation to their local versus systemic effects.

FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 23 AND KLOTHO PROTEIN IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

One of the main problems in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disturbance of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, especially in chronic hemodialysis. Besides classical endocrine axis parathyroid-kidney, in recent years was established the existence of a new endocrine axis the bone-kidney, which gives a better explanation of the calcium and phosphorus metabolism abnormalities, pathophysiology of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD. FGF23 is a circulating factor synthesized in osteocytes. It inhibits renal phosphate reabsorption and activity of 1-alphahydroxylase. Anti-aging Klotho protein is a potent co-factor of FGF23. This review presents the mechanisms of the interaction of these elements of the newly discovered axis in normal settings and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Growth hormone and Klotho

Acromegaly is characterized by excessively high GH and IGF1 levels. Recent data suggest that soluble Klotho (sKlotho) is also elevated in patients with active acromegaly. sKlotho decreases towards normal following removal of the GH-producing pituitary adenoma. TheKlothogene was identified in mice following its accidental disruption by ectopic DNA. It is an ageing suppressor gene of restricted expression (mainly in kidneys, brain, and parathyroid and pituitary glands) encoding a transmembrane protein, mKlotho. mKlotho serves as a co-receptor in fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) signalling. FGF23 promotes urinary phosphate excretion and inhibits the synthesis of calcitriol. The ectodomain of mKlotho is enzymatically released to result in a humoral factor, sKlotho, which exerts systemic effects (on ion channels and signalling pathways), possibly by working as an enzyme that modifies glycans of cell surface glycoproteins. GH enhances renal phosphate reabsorption and calcitriol production, i.e. exerts effects in the proximal tubule opposing those attributed to mKlotho, and attenuates calciuria in the distal tubule similar to sKlotho. sKlotho can be measured in extracellular fluids (serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)) by an ELISA. In line with predominant expression of Klotho in kidneys and choroid plexus, concentrations of sKlotho are particularly high in urine and CSF. Determination of sKlotho in serum and urine (both presumably reflecting GH action on the kidneys) could be used as a supplementary tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acromegaly. The question arises whether GH exerts selected actions via modifying activities of Klotho.

Regulation of serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels by fibroblast growth factor 23 is mediated by FGF receptors 3 and 4

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a phosphaturic hormone implicated in the pathogenesis of several hypophosphatemic disorders. FGF23 causes hypophosphatemia by decreasing the expression of sodium phosphate cotransporters (NaPi-2a and NaPi-2c) and decreasing serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels. We previously showed that FGFR1 is the predominant receptor for the hypophosphatemic actions of FGF23 by decreasing renal NaPi-2a and 2c expression while the receptors regulating 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels remained elusive. To determine the FGFRs regulating 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels, we studied FGFR3−/−FGFR4−/− mice as these mice have shortened life span and are growth retarded similar to FGF23−/− and Klotho−/− mice. Baseline serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels were elevated in the FGFR3−/−FGFR4−/− mice compared with wild-type mice (102.2 ± 14.8 vs. 266.0 ± 34.0 pmol/l; P = 0.001) as were the serum levels of FGF23. Administration of recombinant FGF23 had no effect on serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 in the FGFR3−/−FGFR4−/− mice (173.4 ± 32.7 vs. 219.7 ± 56.5 pmol/l; vehicle vs. FGF23) while it reduced serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels in wild-type mice. Administration of FGF23 to FGFR3−/−FGFR4−/− mice resulted in a decrease in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and an increase in serum phosphorus levels mediated by increased renal phosphate reabsorption. These data indicate that FGFR3 and 4 are the receptors that regulate serum 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels in response to FGF23. In addition, when 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3 levels are not affected by FGF23, as in FGFR3−/−FGFR4−/− mice, a reduction in PTH can override the effects of FGF23 on renal phosphate transport.